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Dolly’s wake
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Local charities help those in storm's path
Even though Hurricane Dolly was downgraded to a Category 1 storm Wednesday, local charities are standing by and are ready to help if needed.
"Normally we'd keep our vehicle ready to go," Maj. Carl Hughes of the Salvation Army said. "As soon as we get a call, we get in and take off."
Hurricane Dolly rolled Wednesday onto South Padre Island as a Category 2 storm with winds blowing 100 mph. Dolly was later downgraded to a Category 1 storm with 95 mph winds.
"If it was even more of a disaster, if it was a larger hurricane, we'd be all staged in that area - we would be ready to move in as soon as it hit," he said.
Hughes said the Salvation Army already has eight canteen emergency vehicles in McAllen, and if the storm gets worse or the crews need more help, an Odessa crew will be ready to go.
"Normally the crew moves in, and we all help each other once we get there and do what they need to do," he said.
The Odessa Red Cross is also ready and willing to help.
"We have people on standby, but we have not deployed anyone yet," Jimmie Birden, director of emergency services at the Red Cross, said.
"I do know that Red Cross has opened shelters in safe zones that have been occupied since yesterday," she said. "The rest of us are just sitting back and waiting."
Both charities are doing all they can to prepare with material and monetary needs.
"We're always collecting donations," Hughes said. "We don't know how bad it'll be."
As of Wednesday, the Salvation Army is asking for cots for the shelters and money to buy food and water for the hurricane evacuees.
"As of right now, we don't know what (else) we need," Hughes said.
And the Red Cross isn't accepting any material goods just yet, but financial assistance is needed.
"Monetary donations are very much needed," Birden said.
WANT TO HELP?
>> To donate money and cots to the Salvation Army, call 332-0738 or go to the Salvation Army Red Shield Lodge at 810 E. 11th St.
>> To donate money to the Red Cross, call 570-6161 or write to P.O. Box 60310 Midland, TX 79711.
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